Try the Yokohama - Geolandar A/T-S 215/60 R16 95H G012, RBL, M+S

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=135&Cookie=become&details=Ordern&typ=R-134217&ranzahl=4&nichtweiter=1

Hi snoopy, thank you or that That is good I was finding tyres just a little larger @215/65R16. I will just have to go from manufacturer to manufacturer and try all the permutations. It looks most likely that16" wheels will have the closest fit of small off road tyre your 215/60R16 is good.

Anthony, don't bother looking, they aren't available!!

The same questions keeping coming up in Freelander world with people who have 17" or even 18" wheels, and our standard response is to go for 16" rims and tyres. I'm lucky as I'm on 15" where there is loads of choice.

The question of speedo error keeps coming up, but if you actually look into it, going from 215/70 to 225/60 actually makes very little difference to the overall rolling circumference. In fact if you study it thoroughly it is surprising how different manufacturers of the same size tyre vary in circumference..

]I agree I never like using tyres from different manufacturers on the same vehicle because the sizes differ dramatically from what they state on the tyre when compared side by side. In the 9.00R16 the size on one of my vehicles the difference manufacturer to manufacturer is unbelievable and huge even tyres of different type within the same manufacturer very considerably. It looks as though I would have to adopt 16" & sell the 17" wheels and tyres at a loss. I will not go smaller in overall diameter however than what is on the 170 CR already.

To be honest Graham, I am starting to find the process of turning a silk purse into a sows ear very wearisom now. I am a bit under the weather at present so my mood is not at best but I have been wondering if I should just sell my whole range of vehicles including the 6x6 and just buy two Landrover Defenders, a 90 and a 110 and have done with it. I cannot afford two new defenders but perhaps I could stretch to used two X 2.4 Puma engines with ABS and Traction Control. Say a 90 CSW and a 110 HT or CSW. The thing is, convincing my wife all over again might be a tall order.

]

To be honest Graham, I am starting to find the process of turning a silk purse into a sows ear very wearisom now. I am a bit under the weather at present so my mood is not at best but I have been wondering if I should just sell my whole range of vehicles including the 6x6 and just buy two Landrover Defenders, a 90 and a 110 and have done with it. I cannot afford two new defenders but perhaps I could stretch to used two X 2.4 Puma engines with ABS and Traction Control. Say a 90 CSW and a 110 HT or CSW. The thing is, convincing my wife all over again might be a tall order.

Sorry you are not feeling so hot. From everything you have said in the past, I do not think the Yeti is the perfect car for your needs, simply because it is a softroader and not up to the extreme conditions you may have to use it in. IMO it is an ideal car for use on country roads and on motorways, very comfortable and well powered for road use but not suited for rough farm work. The X-Trail was the same, neither a road car or an off roader. (compared to a Defender)

Why did I pick a Yeti? I've mentioned the need to be close to a Dealer (i.e. not having to drive for an hour to get to a depot) My Dealer is about 20 mins away. I also wanted 4x4 capability for towing a small trailer/sailer on and off beaches and a need for dealing with the ungritted iced up roads around here. I see my needs as being "softer" to yours. Having run an old LR (Series 2 - I think) there is a world of difference from a Yeti or most other small SUVs. The LR is ideal for the rough stuff but I would not like to drive much town or Mway in one, whereas the Yeti is more a car that likes a bit of rough!

Hope you don't mind me expressing an opinion.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful input.

Surely Skoda dealers should discuss with prospective Yeti owners the tyre types and wheel sizes needed for their particular use of the vehicle and in particular if they are taking it abroad where snow chains and/or winter tyres may be required by law.

It is ridiculous to contemplate disposing of an expensive tyre set on a new vehicle because of Skoda's failure to offer proper help to prospective purchasers.

I was wondering if the Yeti brochure might be misleading on this issue:-

But if driving off the beaten track appeals, at the mere push of the off-road button, Yeti turns into a highly capable off-road vehicle. It is adept at climbing slippery slopes, descending steep hills and maintaining control on difficult terrain using the very latest in 4 x 4 systems. Yeti has all the benefits of a 4 x 4 vehicle combined with the practicality and drive of a family hatchback

The off-road button is only available on the Elegance 4 x 4 models and surely the "rough road package" extra reinforces the image of a get anywhere vehicle?

It is interesting there are no pictures in the brochure of a mud spattered Yeti climbing or descending difficult terrain - they rely on line drawings to illustrate the capabilities of the off road button.

Vic

Edited 7 February, 201016 yr by Y4YETI

Thanks everyone for all the helpful input.

Surely Skoda dealers should discuss with prospective Yeti owners the tyre types and wheel sizes needed for their particular use of the vehicle and in particular if they are taking it abroad where snow chains and/or winter tyres may be required by law.

It is ridiculous to contemplate disposing of an expensive tyre set on a new vehicle because of Skoda's failure to offer proper help to prospective purchasers.

I was wondering if the Yeti brochure might be misleading on this issue:-

The off-road button is only available on the Elegance 4 x 4 models and surely the "rough road package" extra reinforces the image of a get anywhere vehicle?

It is interesting there are no pictures in the brochure of a mud spattered Yeti climbing or descending difficult terrain - they rely on line drawings to illustrate the capabilities of the off road button.

Vic

It is misrepresentation, marketing hype, what have you. Though it is a capable vehicle off road even with road tyres. One only has to see some video clippings for that I think that if they had have sorted its wheel tyre pages to include proper off road use, to have designed the wheel arches in such a way so not to need to faff around with smaller tyre combinations just to proceed with winter tyres or chains it could have been a truly great car. It is not just the mucking around with wheels that disappoints it is the inaccurate information and lack of appropriate information from the suppliers that causes such dilly dallying. Just when one has thought that they have overcome one problem another comes along. All of these things should be very well sorted but they are not. I beleive that the people on this forum know more about the Yeti than the dealers and Skoda UK combined.

Oh I will most probably calm down after a day or so when this cold has gone and get down to making compromises again or finding some way around the insurmountable. :zzz:

The off-road button is only available on the Elegance 4 x 4 models and surely the "rough road package" extra reinforces the image of a get anywhere vehicle?

It is interesting there are no pictures in the brochure of a mud spattered Yeti climbing or descending difficult terrain - they rely on line drawings to illustrate the capabilities of the off road button.

Vic

The off-road button is available on any 4x4 for £80 and it works well. It remaps the electronic stability package to give a sharper response to skidding or loss of traction. The rough road package is steel plates replacing the plastic engine shield and protection of brake and other under parts on the vehicle.

This does not make the Yeti the ideal off roader. For example there is no low ratio gearing and the diff lock is decided by the CPU and not the driver. It works OK but I have doubts about serious off road work especially as the tyres are really suited for road use. With proper mud boots, it would perform OK off road but does not have the clearance for deep wading.

Edited 7 February, 201016 yr by Terfyn

Of course a vehicle with a duel range transfer box, larger wheels higher, ground clearance, massive articulation, snorkels and so on are better fitted to off road transportation but these types of vehicles headed by the Landrover Freelander do surprisingly well for their lack of obvious mechanical aids. They make up for this with electronic chassis management programming which affords them abilities greater than might be imagined and also making up for lack of driver skills and abilities both on road and off it.

For those who have not seen any film off the Yeti off road, here is a thread that I started to make. A collection of what was available on the internet at that time, to help inform people who might be interested in what abilities the Yeti might have in the rough even on road tyres.

Yeti Off Road Video

I would like this collection as a sticky

It is ridiculous to contemplate disposing of an expensive tyre set on a new vehicle because of Skoda's failure to offer proper help to prospective purchasers.

Indeed it would be. Surely any purchaser with additional needs would keep the standard wheels & tyres for spring/summer/autumn use and buy a second set for winter/off-road use?

I found this site with 215/65 R16 Tyres

I know that they are slightly larger than standard but should work off road as they are not too much larger and evidently the speeds reads slightly slow anyway. A % calculation would need to done to make sure that one cancels out the other.

General Grabber AT2 :: BLK 98T 215/65 R16 £94.88 are very well rated tyres off road in all terrain style not too sure what are the latest tyres on the market or yet what mud terrains might be available if anyone wanted them

I found this site with 215/65 R16 Tyres

I know that they are slightly larger than standard but should work off road as they are not too much larger and evidently the speeds reads slightly slow anyway. A % calculation would need to done to make sure that one cancels out the other.

General Grabber AT2 :: BLK 98T 215/65 R16 £94.88 are very well rated tyres off road in all terrain style not too sure what are the latest tyres on the market or yet what mud terrains might be available if anyone wanted them

They look like good winter tyres. There is really no problem getting the right 60 series size in equivalent tyres to those. But, but, but, they are really winter tyres, not serious OFF ROAD.

Look at this site. http://www.tirepackage.com/ Really capable off-road tyres have big chunky blocks oncorde front gear tyre would do well if you let most of the air out

There is just no one tyre for all conditions.

The General Grabber AT2 have one of the highest regards as an All Terrain pattern in off road circles and is placed very highly in tests in many magazine articles and is often the choice for those not wanting to go the whole hog. I agree that it is not one of the most aggressive tread patterns but does exceptionally well off road in all sorts of coditions, a bit like the yeti in fact. It is an All Terrain AT, It is not a MUD Terrain MT or an Extreme Terrain Tyre by any stretch of the imagination but for the type of car is perhaps one of the best compromises in off road tyres. It has good off and on road performance and traction. I would have thought that tis tyre would be an excellent choice as an off road tyre for the Yeti

General Grabber AT2

I have not had a proper look as yet but off road tyres in small sizes are few and far between I beleive. Certainly their is not the huge range that is available for larger sizes. An Aggressive Mud Terrain pattern in that sort of size might be very difficult to find particularly in popular brands. I have my self not tried these particular tyres. 3 of my off road vehicles have very aggressive MUD terrain type tyres from different manufacturers but even if they where available in Yeti sizes, I am not too sure that they would be suitable.

Edited 7 February, 201016 yr by Anthony 1

The General Grabber AT2 have one of the highest regards as an All Terrain pattern in off road circles and is placed very highly in tests in many magazine articles and is often the choice for those not wanting to go the whole hog. I agree that it is not one of the most aggressive tread patterns but does exceptionally well off road in all sorts of coditions, a bit like the yeti in fact. It is an All Terrain AT, It is not a MUD Terrain MT or an Extreme Terrain Tyre by any stretch of the imagination but for the type of car is perhaps one of the best compromises in off road tyres. It has good off and on road performance and traction. I would have thought that tis tyre would be an excellent choice as an off road tyre for the Yeti

General Grabber AT2

I have not had a proper look as yet but off road tyres in small sizes are few and far between I beleive. Certainly their is not the huge range that is available for larger sizes. An Aggressive Mud Terrain pattern in that sort of size might be very difficult to find particularly in popular brands. I have my self not tried these particular tyres. 3 of my off road vehicles have very aggressive MUD terrain type tyres from different manufacturers but even if they where available in Yeti sizes, I am not too sure that they would be suitable.

It sure looks like it from the tread patern. I had a Chevy Suburban 4WD at one time with similar tires. They were good off road and OK on road, but still fairly noisy.

As said elsewhere, my tire choice is strongly favouring wet on-road performance for both summer and winter. That results in a lot of sipes for the winter tyres in particular. I am quite happy with the Goodyears on there now, but have not decided on the summer selection - 17 or 16"? Current thinking is Goodyear OptiGrips.

I have not put too much thought into tyres for the Yeti. I did assume that tyre would not be a problem but that is not strictly true. The Yeti uses small tyres for my use, I knew that he manufacturers had been making 17" off road tyres and just left it at that. I am glad that I have now looked into it a little more and may have to accept that 16 wheels will be the only way forward. I am not sure what I might do if I buy the Yeti 170 weather to just continue with what is on or to sell the set and buy in a few complete changes of wheel tyres in say 10 wheels in all. If they are all steel it should not be too bad. Maybe just keep what it comes with. It should manage OK to get in and out using both tracks OK. I will just have to see how it goes. I have no mediate plans to off road it for its own sake only just getting in and out winter tyres on their own might be just fine. I have plenty more off road capable machinery at my disposal for more serious stuff.

Sorry you are not feeling so hot. From everything you have said in the past, I do not think the Yeti is the perfect car for your needs, simply because it is a softroader and not up to the extreme conditions you may have to use it in. IMO it is an ideal car for use on country roads and on motorways, very comfortable and well powered for road use but not suited for rough farm work. The X-Trail was the same, neither a road car or an off roader. (compared to a Defender)

Why did I pick a Yeti? I've mentioned the need to be close to a Dealer (i.e. not having to drive for an hour to get to a depot) My Dealer is about 20 mins away. I also wanted 4x4 capability for towing a small trailer/sailer on and off beaches and a need for dealing with the ungritted iced up roads around here. I see my needs as being "softer" to yours. Having run an old LR (Series 2 - I think) there is a world of difference from a Yeti or most other small SUVs. The LR is ideal for the rough stuff but I would not like to drive much town or Mway in one, whereas the Yeti is more a car that likes a bit of rough!

Hope you don't mind me expressing an opinion.

No of course I do not mind you expressing your opinion. I am mainly looking at down sizing and reducing fuel cost which are only going to get ever more expensive no matter what political persuasion of government we have. I was also hoping to enjoy a more road biased vehicle than most of the others that I have. A couple of recent Defenders might be more sensible day to day. They are designed to absorb the rough tracks and abuse. It is not just to do with out right ability but the ability of remaining in one piece over a period time under abuse.

The main thing with defenders is their poor fuel consumption anything between 20 -30 mpg. One does hear of people averaging 30 plus but he best I have ever done is about 28 mpg usually far less say 22mpg with a 300TDi The later puma 2.4 is very well suited to it newish task, it is a Ford Transit engine complete with 6 speed box and a huge improvement in drivability and convenience than what went before it. Its fuel consumption has not improved over the TD5 however. The inside of the new Defenders is also very much improved. Not that many people on here would be impressed with its ambience. It is however a lot better than my Volvo does 15mpg so any replacement would get more use day to day. I was thinking of a 2.4 TDi 90 for my wife and a 2.4 TDi 110 HT with additional seating for me. The 90 would be for commuting for the wife to and from the Hospital and the 110 or me to take the little one to and from school, carrying coal and tat, also for long camping holidays and off road long distance journeys with internal within vehicle camping. The Volvo6x6 is intended for the latter. It has far greater off road capability than any Landrover but is old, cumbersome and expensive to run. Super fun to drive on and off road, lorry type Forward Control view of the road ahead.

My other half is looking towards the Yeti and I must say for all the conflicts that I have with it so am I. I could not think of any other vehicle that I would spend so much time trying to compromise with or overcome obstacles for. In so many ways it is such a well made and designed vehicle with a great range and does a lot of things for most people. It is just marred by a few careless design faults, the wheels being the main one and not just because I want t use it off road either its just a lot of faffing about for want of a better word. It should not need a change of wheels for winter use with or without chains nor should it really need one to source ones own real size wheel and tyre for a proper and convenient to use spare wheel.

It should not need a change of wheels for winter use

It doesn't - there are winter tyres available that fit the standard wheels.

Though I was under the impression that most people who bothered with winter tyres had them on a separate set of wheels anyway.

General Grabber AT2 :: BLK 98T 215/65 R16 £94.88 are very well rated tyres off road in all terrain style not too sure what are the latest tyres on the market or yet what mud terrains might be available if anyone wanted them

I use the AT2's on my Discovery 3. Very good tyre off road (considering they are not full on MT's) and pretty decent on road. Bit slippery in the wet, especially when the tyre is cold

Have been fantastic in the snow (but then the D3 is very good anyway in the snow).

Lasted 32K miles so far, the fronts will need changing in the next 4-5K miles. Rears still have plenty left on them. Not bad considering the D3 is 2.5T !!

Overall (apart from the higher road noise now they are worn at the front) highly recommended.

Will they fit the Yeti 17" wheel without rubbing ?

It doesn't - there are winter tyres available that fit the standard wheels.

Though I was under the impression that most people who bothered with winter tyres had them on a separate set of wheels anyway.

Yes it is OK I did know that, I was just using Skodas own words. They say that the wheels aught to be changed down a size. However to fit off road tyres one would still need to change down to 16" rims.

Ah, I getcha, sorry.

I am easily confused with all this!

That is OK it is my fault for being so pedantic. Skoda says that if you have the posher versions of the Yeti with 17" wheels that to use winter tyres you must change over to 16" and also adopt a smaller overall circumference while your at it. To use chains one needs to fit the smaller wheels anyway. Apparently I have discovered that smaller wheels are also necessary if one wants to fit proper off road tyres. They also state that you can have a "Full sized Spare Wheel" Except that it is not really full sized at all but a 16" steel with small tyres that limit you to driving at a maximum of 50 mph. :smirk:

Perhaps that excuses my sarcastic ramblings or not. If the latter then I need to suffer an propitiate punishment .

You could buy us all cakes.

You could buy us all cakes.

guilty am I before a rank of my piers? Cake let them eat it

It doesn't - there are winter tyres available that fit the standard wheels.

Though I was under the impression that most people who bothered with winter tyres had them on a separate set of wheels anyway.

I had the dealer take the standard tyres off the 16" Moon wheels and put on winter tyres. Alloy wheel s ARE round, steels are not always.

I am so happy with the performance of the wheel/tyre combi that I am not sure if I want to puy 17" wheels on for summer.......Draw-back of 17" are that they are more prone to damage from curb rubs. Advantage is a stiffer side wall and a little more responsive to turning forces. I am not stuck on the additional 10 mm width, but 50 series are stiffer than 60 series in cornering. Accuracy and quick response is important at 100 mph+ speed on the 'bahn, so how much time will I spend there? Dunno. For the daily drive and in-country <130km/80 mph it is not important.

According to this calculator http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html there's only 1.1% difference in rolling radius between 215/60 R16 (std on the S) and the 225/50 R17 (std on the SE and Elegance). After a quick search on mytyres.co.uk there's plenty of choice of winter tyres in 215/60 R16.

Could someone please state which European countries make it compulsory to fit snow chains?

I can't find one.

However a lot of countries state you must have EITHER winter tyres OR chains, not both.

And one of the reasons Skoda, like nearly all manufacturers, fit stupid low profile tyres to SUV's is because in general that is what the public want, as they have no intention of ever getting their vehicle muddy or anywhere remotely away from the "blacktop". The one thing Skoda would be better doing is giving the option of fitting the 16" wheels as a "no cost" option. Preferably with the option of a PROPER All Terrain tyre too.

I've just come back from a trip to the Austrian Tyrol (in my VW Passat 170 Tdi).

Regarding winter tyres, it's my understanding that in Germany, while it is not a legal requirement to fit winter tyres, there is a requirement to have the correct tyres for the weather conditions. In the event that a driver is found to be driving in snow with tyres unsuitable (e.g. summer tyres) there are on the spot fines. There are also on the spot fines if you hold traffic up as a reult of the wrong tyres.

In Austria it is mandatory to use winter tyres.

I had a set of Avon Ice Touring ST tyres fitted to the Passat. If you've never driven in snow on winter tyres, the difference is unbelievable.

Note also that if you do fit winter tyres, they need to have the M & S and snow flake symbols.

Regarding chains, there is a similar problem on the Passat. I have been using Klack & Go Quattros for a couple of years. Easy to put on but a bit bulky and expensive but they work.

John

are immediate fines

Not getting much response from either dealer or Skoda Customer Services

Have just written to "In Gear - Sunday Times"

Snow Chains for Skoda Yeti Elegance 2.0 TDI 170 bhp

Would appreciate your help as I am not getting answers from Skoda Customer Service or from Crawley Down Garage to web or emails we have sent concerning the inability of the top of the range Skoda Yeti to be fitted with either snow chains or substantial off-road tyres.

Do you agree that this is a key issue as some European countries require snow chains and we cannot understand why Skoda's vehicle does not allow this?

You will see that there has been much criticism of Skoda on the Briskoda forum "Snow Chains- Disgraceful they cannot be fitted to Elegance"

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/151680-snow-chains/

Some have suggested purchasing a set of 16" steel wheels fitted with snow tyres for winter use but apart from cost and storage problems there would be need for a dealer reset of the speedometer and mileage instruments.

It is interesting that the Yeti has just received the "Winter car of theYear 2010" award from the Finish magazine Technics world and members of Briskoda wondered why the magazine had not stressed the differences between the cheaper Yeti (16" wheels) that they tested, capable of being fitted with snow chains and tyres and the more expensive Yetis (17" wheels)

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/152832-winter-car-of-the-year-2010-finland/page__gopid__1899203entry1899203

Please can you help? Skoda have not advised us whether or not Weissenfall Klack & Go SUV system can be fitted to the Yeti instead of snow chains and if so whether they could provide them at a nominal cost for Elegance owners who cannot fit snow chains.

Our dealer by telephone suggested we used snow boots but as far as we know they are fabric and we do not know if they are accepted as a legal alternative to snow chains when legally required. Obviously fabric boots are a short term use item in comparison with snow chains or Klack & Go tungsten bars.

There are some sources that suggest the Skoda manual provided with our Yeti is out of date and there are now recommendations that snow chains, if fitted, are fitted to all wheels instead of just the front wheels as set out in the manual.

Kind regards